BARI CLINCHES NARROW VICTORY AGAINST MANTOVA IN SERIE B SHOWDOWN
The Bari football club achieved a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Mantova during their Serie B encounter at the Danilo Martelli Stadium on February 22, 2025. The match, part of the 27th round of the league, saw Bari's Giulio Maggiore score the decisive goal at the 70th minute, marking Bari’s first away win since their triumph against Salernitana on November 10, 2024.
From the kickoff, Bari adopted an aggressive approach, pressing high up the pitch. They quickly took control of the game, forcing Mantova to defend and limit their offensive play. Bari's Bellomo attempted the first significant shot on goal as early as the 11th minute, but his effort was deflected out for a corner.
The first half concluded with both teams locked at 0-0, as Mantova struggled to establish their game, often resorting to defensive tactics. Despite this, Bari managed to create more chances, including notable attempts by Obaretin and Bellomo, both denied by the quick reflexes of Mantova's goalkeeper, Festa.
Entering the second half, the pace of the match continued without changes initially, with the teams exchanging few real threats. Mantova, under the management of Davide Possanzini, attempted to push forward but often found themselves thwarted by Bari's organized defense.
After several substitutions, Bari finally broke the deadlock at the 70th minute. Following Mantova's error during their build-up play, Bari's Maita intercepted the ball and swiftly set up Maggiore. With precision, Maggiore unleashed a shot from just outside the area, finding the bottom corner of Festa's goal, bringing the score to 1-0. This marked Maggiore's first goal for Bari since joining the club.
Despite this setback, Mantova rallied to search for an equalizer, with Mensah leading some promising attacks. Even so, Bari's goalkeeper Radunovic remained solid, making key saves to secure the victory. Mantova pushed for the last few minutes with desperation, but their efforts, including shots from Bragantini and Mensah, were not enough, as the final whistle confirmed Bari's hard-earned win.
With this result, Bari climbed to 37 points, maintaining seventh place and pulling away from the relegation zone by eight points. The defeat, on the other hand, left Mantova languishing just above the relegation zone, having only accumulated two points from their last five matches and now sitting at 29 points.
Bari's coach Moreno Longo expressed satisfaction with the team's performance, particularly emphasizing the importance of finally achieving three points away from home. "We needed this victory to keep our playoff hopes alive, and the players showed great determination today," Longo stated post-match.
Looking forward, Bari will host Sampdoria on March 2, 2025, hoping to continue their recent form, whereas Mantova will travel to Frosinone for their next fixture, desperate for points to improve their precarious position.
Overall, this match illustrated the challenges both teams face as they navigate the competitive Serie B league, with Bari aiming for playoff contention and Mantova fighting to remain above the relegation zone.